Why go
- Town and borough in Berkshire, England.
- Served by Blackbushe Airport (BBS).
History
Reading is a town and borough in Berkshire, England, and the county town of Berkshire. It is Berkshire's largest town, with a total population of 203,795 in its built-up area as of 2021. Most of its built-up area lies within the Borough of Reading, although some outer suburbs are parts of neighbouring local authority areas. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the rivers Thames and Kennet.
Restaurants & places to go
Pizza, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-22:00 Features: outdoor seating · 387 Basingstoke Road, Reading, RG2 0JE · stonehouserestaurants.co.uk
Restaurant · restaurant · Playhatch Roa, Sonning on Thames, RG4 6TN · thefrenchhorn.co.uk
Nepalese, Indian, Restaurant · Nepalese and Indian Cafe Restaurant Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-22:30; Sa, Su 10:30-22:30 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway ·… · dhaulagirikitchen.co.uk
Thai, Restaurant · Thai Restaurant · King Street, Reading, RG1 2HG · bolanthaicuisine.co.uk
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 11:00-23:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-00:30; Su 11:00-23:30 Features: takeaway · 49 Basingstoke Road, Reading, RG2 0ER · pizzagogo.co.uk
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 08:30-18:00; Su 10:00-16:00 Features: takeaway · Chalfont Way, Earley, RG6 5TT · storelocator.asda.com
Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 11:30-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-23:00; Su 11:30-21:30 Features: vegan options, step-free access, air conditioning · 11A… · bellaitalia.co.uk
British, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-We 08:00-22:00; Th-Sa 08:00-22:30; Su 07:30-22:00 Features: outdoor seating · Chain Street, Reading, RG1 2HX · bills-website.co.uk
292 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Heathrow Airport (LHR) 22 mi to the centre
London, ENG, GB — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 86 airlines (British Airways, American Airlines, Iberia Airlines, Finnair…) · direct flights to 171 destinations incl. New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 86 airlines, 171 direct destinations
- British Airways BA (A320, A319, 777, A321, 747-400, 767…) · 130 routes: Aberdeen, Abu Dhabi, Abuja, Accra, Alma-ata, Amman, Amsterdam, Athens, Atlanta, Austin, Bahrain, Baku, Baltimore, Bangalore, Bangkok, Barcelona, Beijing, Beirut, Belfast, Bergen, Berlin, Bologna, Boston, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Calgary, Cape Town, Chengdu, Chicago, Copenhagen, Dallas-Fort Worth, Delhi, Denver, Dubai, Dublin, Duesseldorf, Edinburgh … +90 more
- American Airlines AA (A320, A319, A321, 777, 747-400, 767…) · 94 routes: Aberdeen*, Abu Dhabi*, Accra*, Amsterdam*, Athens*, Atlanta*, Austin, Bahrain*, Baltimore*, Bangalore*, Barcelona*, Belfast*, Bergen*, Berlin*, Bologna*, Boston*, Brussels*, Bucharest*, Budapest*, Calgary*, Cape Town*, Charlotte, Chicago, Copenhagen*, Dallas-Fort Worth, Delhi*, Denver*, Dubai*, Dublin*, Duesseldorf*, Edinburgh*, Entebbe*, Frankfurt*, Geneva*, Gibraltar*, Glasgow*, Gothenborg*, Hamburg*, Hannover*, Helsinki* … +54 more
- Iberia Airlines IB (777, A320, 747-400, A319, A321, 767…) · 50 routes: Aberdeen*, Abu Dhabi*, Atlanta*, Austin, Bahrain*, Baltimore*, Bangkok*, Barcelona*, Beirut*, Belfast*, Bilbao, Boston*, Budapest*, Calgary*, Chicago*, Dallas-Fort Worth*, Denver*, Edinburgh*, Glasgow*, Gothenborg*, Houston*, Ibiza, La Coruna, Las Vegas*, Leeds*, Los Angeles*, Madrid, Manchester*, Mexico City*, Miami*, Montreal*, New York*, Newark*, Newcastle*, Oslo*, Palma de Mallorca*, Paris*, Philadelphia*, Phoenix*, Raleigh-durham* … +10 more
- Finnair AY (747-400, 777, 767, A320, 787-8, A321…) · 27 routes: Atlanta*, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Calgary*, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Helsinki, Houston, Las Vegas, Lisbon*, Los Angeles, Miami, Montreal*, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Raleigh-durham*, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Stockholm*, Toronto*, Vancouver*, Washington
- Virgin Atlantic Airways VS (A330-300, A340-600, 747-400, A320, A340-300, 767-400…) · 27 routes: Aberdeen*, Atlanta*, Beijing*, Boston, Chicago, Delhi, Detroit, Dubai, Edinburgh*, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Lagos, Los Angeles, Manchester*, Miami, Minneapolis, Moscow*, Mumbai, New York, Newark, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, Singapore*, Tokyo, Tokyo, Washington
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (767-300, 777, A319, A320, 777-300ER, A321…) · 17 routes: Calgary*, Chicago*, Duesseldorf, Edmonton*, Frankfurt, Halifax*, Houston*, Los Angeles*, Montreal*, Munich, Newark*, Ottawa*, San Francisco*, St. John's*, Toronto*, Vancouver*, Washington*
- Delta Air Lines DL (767-400, 76W, A330-300, 747-400, A340-300, A340-600…) · 12 routes: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago*, Detroit, Los Angeles*, Miami*, Minneapolis, New York, Newark*, San Francisco*, Seattle, Washington*
- US Airways US (777-300ER, A330-300, 777, A330-200, 767-300, A319…) · 12 routes: Athens*, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Doha, Johannesburg, Lisbon*, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Raleigh-durham
- Air Berlin AB (A319, A320, A321, 767) · 10 routes: Berlin*, Frankfurt*, Hamburg*, Hannover*, Mulhouse*, Munich*, Paris*, Stuttgart*, Vienna*, Zurich*
- Air Canada AC (767-300, 777-300ER, A330-300, A319, 777-200LR) · 8 routes: Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, St. John's, Toronto, Vancouver
- Transaero Airlines UN (A330-300, A340-600, 737-800, 747-400, 767-300, 737-800…) · 8 routes: Aberdeen, Boston*, Edinburgh, Johannesburg, Los Angeles*, Manchester, Moscow, San Francisco*
- Air France AF (767-400, 76W, 777-200LR, A319, A320, A321) · 7 routes: Atlanta*, Boston*, Detroit, Minneapolis*, New York*, Paris, Seattle
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (76W, 767, 737, 767-400, 777, F70…) · 7 routes: Amsterdam, Atlanta*, Boston*, Detroit*, Minneapolis*, New York*, Seattle*
- United Airlines UA (777, 767-300, 757-200, 787-8) · 6 routes: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Washington
- Malaysia Airlines MH (777, A320, A321, 380, 767-300) · 5 routes: Dallas-Fort Worth, Helsinki*, Kuala Lumpur, New York, Raleigh-durham
- Scandinavian Airlines System SK (736, 737-800, 737-700, 737-700, 737-800, A320…) · 5 routes: Copenhagen, Gothenborg, Oslo, Stavanger, Stockholm
- Aer Lingus EI (A320, A319) · 4 routes: Belfast, Cork, Dublin, Shannon
- All Nippon Airways NH (A319, A320, A321, A340-300, A340-600, 734…) · 4 routes: Lisbon*, Tokyo, Tokyo, Warsaw*
- Germanwings 4U (A319, A320, CRJ) · 4 routes: Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Stuttgart
- Air India Limited AI (787-8, 777-200, 777-300ER) · 3 routes: Delhi, Mumbai, New York*
- Croatia Airlines OU (A320, A319) · 3 routes: Rijeka, Split, Zagreb
- Pakistan International Airlines PK (777) · 3 routes: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore
- Air Astana KC (757) · 2 routes: Alma-ata, Tselinograd
- Air China CA (A340-600, 777-300) · 2 routes: Beijing, Shanghai*
- Air New Zealand NZ (777-300, 777) · 2 routes: Los Angeles, San Francisco*
- Alitalia AZ (A320, A321, 32S) · 2 routes: Milan, Rome
- Biman Bangladesh Airlines BG (777-200) · 2 routes: Dhaka, Sylhet Osmani
- China Eastern Airlines MU (A330-200, 737, F70) · 2 routes: Amsterdam*, Shanghai
- Egyptair MS (737-800, A330-300) · 2 routes: Cairo, Luxor
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (777-200LR, 787-8) · 2 routes: Addis Ababa, Toronto
- Gulf Air Bahrain GF (A320, A330-200, 777) · 2 routes: Bahrain, Dallas-Fort Worth*
- Japan Airlines Domestic JL (777-300, 777) · 2 routes: Tokyo, Tokyo*
- Jet Airways 9W (777-300ER) · 2 routes: Delhi, Mumbai
- Kuwait Airways KU (777, AB6) · 2 routes: Kuwait, New York
- Royal Air Maroc AT (737-800, 737-700) · 2 routes: Casablanca, Tanger
- Saudi Arabian Airlines SV (777, 777-300) · 2 routes: Jeddah, Riyadh
- Swiss International Air Lines LX (A320, A319, A321, A320) · 2 routes: Geneva, Zurich
- Thai Airways International TG (A340-600, 736, 747, 737-700, 737-800) · 2 routes: Bangkok, Stockholm*
- Vueling Airlines VY (A320) · 2 routes: Bilbao, La Coruna
- Aegean Airlines A3 (A320, A321) · 1 route: Athens
- Aeroflot Russian Airlines SU (A320, A321, A330-300) · 1 route: Moscow
- AeroMéxico AM (767-300, 787) · 1 route: Mexico City
- Air Algerie AH (736) · 1 route: Algier
- Air Baltic BT (A319) · 1 route: Milan
- Air Malta KM (A319, A320) · 1 route: Malta
- Air Mauritius MK (A340-300) · 1 route: Plaisance
- Air Serbia JU (A319, 737-300) · 1 route: Belgrade
- Asiana Airlines OZ (777-200LR) · 1 route: Seoul
- Austrian Airlines OS (A320, A321) · 1 route: Vienna*
- Azerbaijan Airlines J2 (767) · 1 route: Baku
- Brussels Airlines SN (A319, AR1) · 1 route: Brussels
- Bulgaria Air FB (A319, A320, Embraer 190) · 1 route: Sofia
- Cathay Pacific CX (777-300ER) · 1 route: Hong Kong
- China Airlines CI (737) · 1 route: Amsterdam
- China Southern Airlines CZ (787) · 1 route: Guangzhou
- Cyprus Airways CY (A320) · 1 route: Larnaca
- El Al Israel Airlines LY (767-300, 777-200) · 1 route: Tel-aviv
- Emirates EK (A380) · 1 route: Dubai
- Etihad Airways EY (345, A340-600, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Abu Dhabi
- EVA Air BR (777-300ER) · 1 route: Bangkok
- Icelandair FI (75W) · 1 route: Keflavik
- Iran Air IR (AB6) · 1 route: Tehran
- Kenya Airways KQ (777-200) · 1 route: Nairobi
- Korean Air KE (777-300ER) · 1 route: Seoul
- Libyan Arab Airlines LN (A320) · 1 route: Tripoli
- LOT Polish Airlines LO (734, Embraer 195) · 1 route: Warsaw
- Middle East Airlines ME (A320, A330-200) · 1 route: Beirut
- Olympic Airlines OA (A321) · 1 route: Athens*
- Oman Air WY (A330-300) · 1 route: Muscat
- Philippine Airlines PR (777-300) · 1 route: Manila
- Qantas QF (A380) · 1 route: Dubai
- Qatar Airways QR (A330-200, A330-300, A340-600, 787-8, 777-300ER, 777-200LR) · 1 route: Doha
- Royal Brunei Airlines BI (787) · 1 route: Dubai
- Royal Jordanian RJ (A321, 330) · 1 route: Amman
- SATA International S4 (A319) · 1 route: Lisbon*
- Singapore Airlines Cargo SQ (A380, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Singapore
- South African Airways SA (A330-200, A340-300) · 1 route: Johannesburg
- SriLankan Airlines UL (A330-200) · 1 route: Colombo
- TAM Brazilian Airlines JJ (777-300) · 1 route: Sao Paulo
- TAP Portugal TP (A319, A320, A321) · 1 route: Lisbon
- Tarom RO (318) · 1 route: Bucharest
- Tunisair TU (A320) · 1 route: Tunis
- Turkish Airlines TK (A321, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Istanbul
- Turkmenistan Airlines T5 (757-200) · 1 route: Ashkhabad
- Uzbekistan Airways HY (757) · 1 route: Tashkent
- World Scale Airlines W3 (A330-200) · 1 route: Lagos*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Blackbushe Airport (BBS) 10 mi to the centre
Camberley, Surrey, ENG, GB — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Farnborough Airport (FAB) 15 mi to the centre
Farnborough, Hampshire, ENG, GB — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Wycombe Air Park (HYC) 13 mi to the centre
Marlow, Buckinghamshire, ENG, GB — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Hopkiln Farm Airstrip 3.2 mi to the centre
Reading, Berkshire, ENG, GB
Whittles Farm Airstrip 4.4 mi to the centre
Reading, Oxfordshire, ENG, GB
Getting there by ferry
Thames RiverCruise
Ferry terminal · 0.9 mi from the centre
The Little Green Boat Company - Marlow
Ferry terminal · 11 mi from the centre · The Little Green Boat Company
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Blackbushe Airport (BBS); 6 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By water: 2 ferry terminals within 12 mi (nearest: Thames RiverCruise, 0.9 mi).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Reading, UK. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Trains & rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
Broker, marketplace · Operator network worldwide · Online charter marketplace, part of Directional Aviation; instant quotes.
Marketplace · Operator network · Transparent on-demand jet charter marketplace showing the operator and tail.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.